MARCH CONCERTS IN MONTREAL

Montreal’s March concert schedule might come in like a lamb and go out like a Yanni, but in-between we’ve got shows from Sarah McLachlan, The Planet Smashers, Queens of the Stone Age, Nelly and several bands you should take a night to get to know…

The Low Anthem: Our first show of the month, on March 3rd at Sala Rossa, could be considered a little lamb-like: the gentle, indie folk and blues of Rhode Island’s Low Anthem will hit the stage after ex-band member Dan Lefkowitz and local faves The Barr Brothers.

The Planet Smashers: Well, lamb-time is over because perennial dancefloor exploders The Planet Smashers, beloved in Montreal and respected by ska fans all over the world, are going to deliver one heck of a good time on the 4th at Club Soda.

Little Scream: You may not yet know Montreal’s Little Scream, but with the release of The Golden Record, a wistful and winsome collection of songs on display on the 11th at the National, you probably will soon. Huge bonus: she’ll be joined by local good time purveyors, Plants and Animals.

Gowan: Knowing who (Lawrence) Gowan is may expose your love of Canadian 80s pop, a genre that does not always age well, but whatever! I just took a Youtube trip down his back catalogue and if, on March 16th at Club Soda, he plays half of those hits, this will be awesome.

Royksopp: This Norwegian duo of electronic musicians have touched on every genre under the digital sun, and they will no doubt have Club Soda jumping on the 19th.

Sarah McLachlan: Though singer/songwriter/Lilith Fair pioneer Sarah McLachlan has been relatively quiet in recent years, on the 24th and 25th at Theatre St-Denis, she’ll have her whole back catalogue of beloved ballads on display.

Jeff Tweedy: Jeff Tweedy, who many will know as the head of Wilco, is an accomplished solo artist. His stripped-down solo show on the 25th at the Olympia, will be a great night out for all the true music fans out there.

Nelly: Apparently, though years have passed, it is still possible for things to get hot in herre. Nelly plays Metropolis on the 25th

Queens of the Stone Age: Fans of hard-driving rock and roll will already have March 27th circled on their calendars, because the thunder and lightning of QOTS is going storm into Metropolis with a vengeance.

Yanni: After those two shows, it seems appropriate to end with the soothing sounds of Greek new age megastar Yanni and his March 31stBell Centre show. You’re probably expecting a snarky remark, but I think Yanni has gone so far into cheese that he may have circled back to cool (or at least “ironic cool”) and I am honestly considering going to this.

Some things sell themselves: The Luyas, a Montreal band whose acquaintance you should make, are playing a benefit show at the Rialto, one of the city’s most woefully underused venues. And it’s for a...